I grow blueberries in our yard, here in Madison, Wisconsin. They are all in the ground, so I won't comment on your barrel. Blueberries grow wild in boggy areas, but they are not found in swamps growing in standing water. Your yard might be ideal for blueberries. The fact that it is wet in the spring is not necessarily bad-it depends on how long it stays wet. A raised bed, or simply a six inch elevated mound would improve drainage. Since our soil is high in clay, I have to amend with lots of compost when I plant a shrub. Our compost is made mostly from shredded tree leaves, and it looks more like peat moss, which I have also used successfully for amending soil for blueberry shrubs. I have used both organic fertilizers and Miracle-Gro products on our blueberries. The Miracle-Gro products work fine, and the quality of the fruit is exceptional.

For the last three years I have grown a northcountry, northblue, a couple chippewas, and a couple Rekas in pots. The plants are doing very well. I used pure peat moss in some and in others I used mostly fir bark....all are doing well.

This year I decided to add about 15 more plants in the ground. My soil here has a netural PH so I dug a hole about 15 inches deep and 2 feet in diameter and filled it with fir bark, then planted. I can't comment yet on how well my plant in the ground method will work because it's too soon. I will add though, that a friend using this same method has been very successful.

If you are going to just plant a few plants I would put them in pots, it's easy and it works! Use pure peat or a mix of mostly peat. Drill several holes in the bottom of the pot and you can also put a couple on the side down low on the pot. Sometimes the holes on the bottom will get clogged if you don't want them. I also periodically loosen the soil at the surface of the pots so that the soil can breathe a bit better.

I pasted a picture of a Reka variety in a pot for you to see at this link.

RM

Here is a link that might be useful:

Thanks Eric & RM...I'll mound the Chippewa in ground...the MG Perlite worries me because it has various forms of nitrogen, not sure if harmful to blues. RM, since you have a Northcountry potted, do you think I should remove the filler from the bottom of my whiskey half barrel? Three nickel sized holes not enough? All peat, wow, thought I could only get away with that in a dry climate.

I have about 6 holes drilled in mine but I would think three would be enough. I would not worry too much about the filler in the pot so long as it doesn't take up too much room.

I have included two links for you that discuss using pure peat in pots. You don't have to use this mix, I am just suggesting it because it's worked well for me. Others use a mix of fir bark, pine bark, and potting soil. Don't use cedar, it's toxic.

You might also check youtube.com, lots of good videos discussing blueberries in pots.

good luck!

RM

Here is a link that might be useful: peat bale

another link..........

Here is a link that might be useful: texas blueberries

Mine are doing fine so far in that Miracle-Gro impregnated peat moss. I treat the water with concrete etching phosphoric acid that I got at Home Depot. It takes about 2/3 of a capful to treat four gallons of water. Strong, but not life-threatening acid. If I add half-strength Miracle Gro it takes a cap and a half.

Tempted to use Miracid, but I'm not sure how hydrochloric acid (Miracid) and Phosphoric acid would mix.

I was considering using cedar much as part of my soil mix, but see that riverman1 indicates that it is toxic. Is this factual? I use cedar mulch on all my gardens, and in thick layers. Obviously, I had never heard about this toxicity issue.

On another note, I have several 3foot diameter pots and am considering planting 2 different varieties in each one. Any thoughts?